I want to say thank you – Guardiola praises Manchester City owners for new signings

Manchester City's owners were thanked by Pep Guardiola for their pre-season spending after winning the club's Premier League opener.

Manchester City's players applaud their fans after victory over Brighton and Hove Albion

Pep Guardiola thanked the Manchester City hierarchy for their close-season transfer dealings after watching his new-look side kick off the Premier League campaign with victory at Brighton and Hove Albion.

After finishing a disappointing 15 points behind champions Chelsea last term, City embarked on a spending spree to freshen up their squad.

Kyle Walker, Bernardo Silva, Danilo, Benjamin Mendy and Ederson have all arrived as City splashed out over £200million.

And City started the campaign with a comprehensive 2-0 win over newly promoted Brighton, with only Mendy not featuring of the new boys – Sergio Aguero and a Lewis Dunk own goal sealing all three points.

Guardiola was pleased with his side's dominant display and expects his squad to go from strength to strength as they bed in.

"I want to say thank you to the club, for the next four, five years we have young players with huge talent," he said.

"Last season with Leroy [Sane] and [Ilkay] Gundogan, this season with Bernardo, Danilo, Mendy and with Kyle - they are young enough to play four, five years. So big congratulations to all people working with City, we are a strong club.